Europe must take more responsibility for its security - Lithuanian president (expands)

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS - Europe must take more responsibility for its security, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said ahead of Friday's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Vilnius.

"We are convinced that Europe must assume more responsibility for its security and its place in the global world, and Germany and its chancellor are the leaders on whom it will depend what future Europe has," she told reporters at the Presidential Palace.

EU-US relations have been tense in recent years over trade issues, certain international commitments and President Donald Trump's attitude to NATO.

This sometimes forces Lithuania to maneuver in disputes between the EU and US as Vilnius sees Washington as its key security guarantor.

Grybauskaite said Lithuania is ready to take part "in the process of making all key European decisions" together with Germany.

The German chancellor thanked the president for her support.

"Dear Dalia, you are a very important person in ongoing discussions about Europe and I want to thank you sincerely for that," she said.

Merkel said she will discuss "conversations that are taking place with the US and that are not easy" with Grybauskaite.